Eggs are a superfood!
Numerous recent research studies have shown that eating eggs has little effect on ones cholesterol levels – this is in direct contrast to the very reason why we were told to avoid eggs during the cholesterol hype of the last 30 years.
Even the Mayo Clinic has changed its recommendation, saying that eating 4 eggs per week has not been found to increase your risk of heart disease.
The body needs cholesterol and cannot live without it. Hence the main daily production of cholesterol takes place in the liver. When you eat cholesterol-rich foods, the liver cuts down on its own production, so that the cholesterol levels remain stable. If your diet contains no cholesterol, the liver simply ups its production of cholesterol.
A natural, unprocessed diet comprising mainly of foods that have been part of the human diet the longest, which includes eggs, occasional meat, fish, nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables, offers the most protection against heart disease and other pathologies.
Health benefits of eggs, preferably free-range, are :
- Eggs contain high quality protein – on average 7g per egg
- Boiled eggs are a filling, tasty snack – only 70-80 calories per egg
- Eggs are a rich source of the two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect eyes against age-related macular degeneration
- Eggs are a rich source of choline (300 mg per egg), which is vital for brain development in children, and improves memory in adults
- Eggs are a rich source of all vitamins, besides vitamin C – especially vitamin B2, B12 and folate
- Eggs are rich in minerals and provide good amounts of iodine, phosphorus, selenium and zinc
- Eggs contain cholesterol in the egg yolk – one large yolk contains 186mg
- Eggs contain about 5 g of fat – besides the cholesterol, the rest is made up of saturated fatty acids (36%), MUFA (48%) and PUFA (18%).
The one healthy food that is loaded with nutrients, tasty, easy to cook and prepare in so many different ways, easily available all year round and inexpensive, is without doubt eggs!
HEALTH INSIGHT
MARCH 2017